Air-hose coupling



C. A. GARZONI.

AIB HOSE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2. I9I8l /l S14/newton Uhl r TAFES GRINT@ A. GABZON, GE DE LANSE, FENNSYLVANIA.

AIR-HCSE CGUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

Application led November 12, 1918. Serial No. 262,211.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

it known that l, Crrnvro A. GAnZoNI, a citizen of the Uni l States, residing at De Lancey, in the county of Jefferson and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Hose Couplings, of whichthe following is a speciication.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in air hose couplings and to that class of couplings particularly used in connection with railway trains, and an important object of which is to provide a device consisting of a pair of coupling men bers which include means whereby air automatically passes through said members when they are coupled.

Another important object of my invention is to providesu device consisting of a pair of coupling members, each member having a head which is permitted to move longitudinally and swing transversely of a car to which the coupling member is secured and at the same time said head is prevented from rocking with the car when the heads of the two coupling members are coupled.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a device including a pair of coupling heads so constructed thatthe walls of said heads carrying the air outlet ports or passage-ways are held in close engagement with each other when the heads are coupled together.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device including a pair of coupling heads, each head having a normally closed valve therein, which operates longitudinally of said head.

A still further obje-ct of my invention is to provide a device of the above named charaeter which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and one which can be manufactured at a minimum cost.

Other objects and advantages of the inve-ntion will be apparent during the course of the following description.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and spe-I ciiically pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specilication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention showing the same attached to the end ofva railway oar.

Fig. 2 is an end view `of the invention looking into the forward end or coupling head of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the coupling member taken on the line 3*?) of Fig. t.

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional top view of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4- and Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse longitudinal sectional view of a portiorfof the coupling head.

In the drawings, whereinfor the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 6 designates a portion of the forward end of a railway car.

My air hose coupling designated generally by the numeral 8, is secured to the under side of the forward end of the car 6 and since the co-aeting coupling member secured to a car, adapted to be coupled with the car 6, not shown, is of the same construction as the member 8, a description of one air hose coupling member 8 will sutlice for both.

The air hose coupling member 8 is supported fromthe bottom of the forward end of the car by a rear supporting frame 9, adapted to support the rearmost end of the couplingme-mber and a front supporting frame l0 adapted to support the forwarr end of said member 8. Both of said frames are arranged transversely of the car. The forward supporting frame l0 is substantially square, the lower portion ll of said frame being` of substantially U-shaped construction. The upper or free ends of the arms of the U-shaped 4construction are bent outwardly and at right angles to the arms as at l2, for fastening engagement with the car by means of bolts or the like whereby the U-shaped frame 1l is suspended from the bottom of the car. The upper portion of the supporting frame 10 consists of a brace bar 13 having its free ends bent downwardly and at right angles, whereby said angularly arranged ends 14 of the bar 13 are secured to the arms 11 of the U-shaped frame to bridge the space between the free ends of said arms. Both the horizontal bottom 15 of the U-shaped frame 10 and the bar 13 are provided each with a central vertical perforation for a purpose which will presently appear.

The rear supporting frame 9 is of substantially rectangular shape, the lower portion 16 thereof consisting of a U-shaped frame similar to the lower portion of the forward supporting frame 10. rlhe free ends 17 of the arms of the U-shaped construction are bent outwardly and at right angles to said arms, whereby said angularly arranged ends are secured to the under side of the car by bolts or other suitable securing means. The upper portion 19 of the rear supporting frame 9 also consists of a horizontal bar 19 having' its free ends bent downwardly and at right angles whereby said bar is secured between the free ends of the arms 16 of the U-shaped frame by means of rivets 20 or other suitable means. 1nstead of the top and bottoni'of the rear sup- .)ortino' frame bein@ rovided with oerforations, the vertical arms 16 of the U-shaped frame 9 are each provided with a central horizontal perforation, the purpose of which4 will hereinafter appear.

The air hose coupling` member 8 consists of a cylinder 21 passing through both the forward and rear supporting frames. A band 22 embraces the forward end of said cylinder and said band is provided with oppositely disposed vertical extensions 22 carrying pintles 23. These pintles extend. beyond the periphery of the band 22 and pass through the alined perforations in the lower portion 15 of the forward supporting frame 10 and the bracing bar 13 for pivotally supporting the forward end of the cylinder 21. This arrangement provides the vertical pivot for the cylinder whereby the same may swing transversely of the car. 1t will of course be understood that the forward frame 10 as well as the rear frame 9 are of such size as to permit swinging movement of the cylinder within the frames. As will be noted the band 22 is spaced from the upper and lower brace bars 13 and 15 respectively to permit the coupling member 8 to move vertically of the car when the forward car in a train strikes an uneven joint between rails.

Referring niore.} )articiilarly to `Fig. 3 of the drawings, the numeral 24 designates a pair of substantially semi-circular members adapted to embrace the rear portion of the cylinder 21, and the free perforated ends of the members 24 are bent outwardly of the cylinder 21. The inner ends of these rods 25 are each enlarged and provided with a vertical opening to aline with the vertical perforations in the outwardly bent free en ls of the semi-circular members 2-1. Bolts 2G are then passed through the perforations in the free ends of the semi-circular members and the openings in the enlarged inner ends of the guide rods 25. The guide rods pass through and operate in the horizontal perforations in the vertical arms of the rear supporting frame 9 whereby the rear end of the cylinder 21 may move transversely of the car. A coil spring 27 is arranged upon each guide rod 25, one end of the spring abutting with the vertical arms of the rear supporting member 9, while the opposite ends are adapted to abut with the enlarged inner ends of the rods 25. These springs normally retain the cylinder 21 in the position whereby it extends longitudinally of the car.

Each end of the cylinder 21 is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange 28 to form a seat for the forward cylinder head 29 and the rear cylinder head 30. Bolts 31 or other suitable securing means pass through the cylinder head and the annular flanges 28 for detachably securing` the heads of the cylinder. The rear cylinder head is provided with a central threaded opening which engages with a threaded end of an air pipe 82. This pipe 32 carries an emergency cut off ialve 33. Connected to the valve and 'to the cars main air pipe 31, is a flexible tubing 35 which permits transverse swinging movement of the cylinder 21 in relation to the car 5. The forward cylin-V der head 29 is provided with a central opening 36, the lower portion or edge of which is cut away as at 37, more clearly shown in Fig. 5, to forni an 1cuate slot for a purpose which will presently appear.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 1, the hollow piston 38 operates within the cylinder 21 and is normally held in the forward end of said cylinder by a coil spring 39. rllhe spring is positioned in the rear part of the cylinder 21 and one end of the spring abuts with the rear end of the hollow piston 38, while the opposite end of the spring abuts with a ring l0. rllhis ring is held in engagement with the rear cylinder head 30 under the tension of the spring and may be readily removed from the cylinder if desired. The rearmost end of the hollow piston 38 is provided with an annular flange 41 having packing rings {1l-2 therein for engagement with the inner wall of the cylinder 21. l also provide an annular fiange 43 upon the piston 3S adjacent the forward end thereof, which flange normally engages the forward cylinder head 29 by means of the coil spring 39 exerting a forward pressure upon the cylinder 38. This annular flange 43 is also provided with a packing ring 44 so that it is impe.4L dole for air to escape from the cylinder through the slot 37. lt will be clearly seen from this arrangement that the hollow piston 38 may reciprocate within the cylinder 2l and accordingly absorb shocks by one coupling member coming into engagement with the co-acting member.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the movable piston 38 is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 45, which operates in the slot 37 in the forward cylinder head 29. This rib is positioned forwardly of the angular flange 43 and upon the piston 38. rlhis rib and slot 37 arrangement makes it possible for the cylinder 2l to rock with the motion of the'train and not aifect the piston 38 when the coupling members are coupled.

The forward end of the hollow piston 38 extends through and beyond the opening 36 in the forward cylinder head 29 and the outermost end of the piston is provided with external screw threads for engagement with the coupling head designated in general by the numeral 4G. The body portion 47 of the head is tubular and is provided with internal. screw threads for engagement with the outer screw threads of the hollow piston 38. Slightly forward of the threaded end ofthe body portion 47 is an interior annular flange 48 forming a valve seat. Extending forwardly of the body portion 47 of the head, is an upper forwardly extending hollow jaw 49 which communicat-es with the tubular body portion 47. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, the side wall 50 of the jaw 49 is provided with an air outlet opening or port 5l. The outside wall 52 of the jaw 49 inclines forwardly and slightly inwardly, then inclines inwardly at a greater angle as at 53. The forward end of the side wall 50 of the jaw 49 inclines outwardly as at 54 to provide a wedge shaped nose upon the forward end of the jaw 49. The side wall 50 of the jaw 49 is provided with a transverse or portion 55, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and the forward face of .this portion is provided with a threaded recess 5G. Communicating with this threaded recess is an opening 57 to form the horizontal guide opening for the valve stem 58. The real-end of the valve stem extends rearwardly of the portion and is provided with a valve 59, which seats upon the valve seat 48 in the body portion of the coupling head. A packingv nut is received in the threaded recess 56 of the depending portion 55 and has a. central opening` through which the valve stem 58 reciprocates. The forward end of the valve stem extends forwardly and beyond the packing nut 60 so that said end is arranged slightly to the side of the wall 50 of the jaw 49. This end of the valve stem is provided with an enlargement 6l, the side face 62 of which engages the face 50 of the side wall of the jaw 49. The forward face 62 of this enlargement inclines rearwardly from the wall 50 to provide an abutment for the portion 54 of the lower jaw of the co-acting coupling head 49 and is more clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. lt will be noted that the jaw 49 of the (fo-acting coupling head is the same as the jaw 49 of Ythe coupling head just described. A spring G3 is positioned upon the forward end of the valve stem between the enlargement 6l and the inwardly extending portion 64 of the opposite jaw G5. @ne end of the spring abuts with the packing nut `G0 while the opposite end of the spring` abuts with the enlargement 6l, whereby the valve 59 is normally positioned upon its seat, thereby closi ing the passage-way between the piston 38 and the hollow jaw 49.

The flange portion G4 of the jaw 55 provided with a threaded opening` 66 to receive the packing nut 60. From Fig. 6 it will be seen that substantially one-half of the packing nut engages with the threaded recess 56 of the upper jaw 49, while the other half of the nut engages with the threaded recess 66 of the other jaw. It is by this means that the jaw is partially and detachably supported by its co-acting jaw. This jaw 65 is preferably solid and extends forwardly and longitudinally of the piston 3S in spaced relation to its upper jaw, whereby a pocket is formed between the jaws for receivingvthe jaw 4,9 of the co-acting coupling head when the ieads are coupled. The vertical inside surface of the jaw 65 inclines forwardly and outwardly from the flange portion 64, as at 67, then inclines in the same direction as at 68 at a smaller angle to the forward end of the jaw. The rea-r portion of this jaw is detachably secured to the other jaw by means of bolts 69.

It is to be understood that the jaw 49 is identically the same as the lower jaw 49 of the co-acting coupling head.

In operation, assuming that the coupling heads are coming together a's shown in Fig. 4, the wall 52 of the jaw 49 contacts with and slides inwardly on the inclined surface 68 of the jaw 65. As the jaw 49 moves farther inwardly of the pocket between the two jaws of the co-acting coupling` head, the i surface 52 of the jaw 49 will abut with and ride upon the inclined surface 67 of the jaw G5. At the same time, the nose or inclined portion 54 of the jaw 49 abuts with the inclined forward surface 62 of the enlargement 6l formed upon the forward end of the valve stem. This action of course, moves the valve stem rearwardly of the coupling head and moves the valve 59 from its seat to permit air to pass through the pistons 38 into the hollow jaw 49 then through the air outlet passage-way 5l and into the hollow jaw 49 of the co-acting'coupling head. By providing the inclined surfaces 52 and 53 upon the jaws 49 and 49 and their coperation with the inclined surfaces 67 and 68 of the coacting jaw 65 it will be seen that the closer the coupling heads come together the closer the walls 50 will be brought into engagement with one another. This of course, provides a tight fit between the air Outlet passage-ways 51.

lJVhen the coupling heads come into engagement with one another, the hollow pistons 3S are moved rearwardly, this action being opposed by the compression of the spring 39. After the heads have been coupled, this spring exerts a forward force upon the hollow piston, thereby holding the coupling heads in close engagement with one another. As stated before, the annular flange of the piston prevents excessive forward movement of said piston by abutting with the forward cylinder head 29.

TWhen the heads are coupled and the cars begin to rock, it will be seen that the supporting frames 9 and 10 together with the cylinder 21 will rock with the car. As the forward cylinder' head is provided with the arcuate slot 37, in which the rib l5 operates, the piston 38 will not be aected by the rocking movement of the train, since the slot. 37 will move about the rib 15.

rrs the coupled cars move around a curve, it will be seen that the cylinder 21 will swing transversely of the car. The forward end of the cylinder 21 will swing upon its vertical pivot in the supporting frame 10, while the rear end of the cylinder will be permitted to move to either side by the guide rods 25 operating through the vertical arms of the rear supporting frame 9. After the cars have cleared the curve and are upon a straight track, the springs 27 on the guide rods 25 will replace the cylinder 21 to its normal position.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the preferred or approved form of my invention. I desire it to beunderstood that l may make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is

l. 1n the combination, a pair of coupling members, a coupling head carried by each member, and having an air passage therethrough, a normally closed valve in said head, a pair of jaws carried by each head, one jaw having an opening therein, said jaw being further provided with a threaded recess communicating with said opening, the co-actingj aw having a threaded opening, a packing nut threaded into said threaded recess and threaded opening in the jaws for detachably connecting the jaws of each head,

and a valve stem passing through the opening in the jaw and through the threaded recess and through said packing nut.

2. ln the combination, a pair of coupling members, normally extending longitudinally t of a car, means for permitting air to automatically pass through said members when they are coupled, means for vertically pivoting the forward ends of said members, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal guide rods pivoted to the rear end of each member, a rear supporting frame for each member in which said rods operate whereby said members may swing transversely of the car, and means for normally' retaining the coupling members in their normal position.

ln the combination, a pair of coupling members each including a cylinder permitted to swing transversely of a car, a piston normally retained in the forward end ci' said cylinder whereby the piston moves rearwardly thereof when the coupling members are being coupled, said cylinder having an arcuate slot, means on the piston and operating in said slot whereby rocking movement of the cylinder is prevented from rocking said piston, and means for permitting air to automatically pass through the coupling members when they are coupled.

Ll. An air hose coupling comprising a hollow cylinder, an air pipe connected to a car and to the rear end of said cylinder, a hollow piston operating in said cylinder and passing through the forward end thereof, said piston having an open rear end within said cylinder, said piston being normally retained in the forward end of said cylinder, and a coupling head secured to the forward end of said piston.

5. ln the combination, a pair of coupling members normally extending longitudinally of a car, means for permitting air to automatically pass through said members when they are coupled, means for vertically pivoting the forward ends of said members to the car, the rear supporting frame having vertical side arms, each arm being provided with an opening, a pair of oppositely disposed horizontal guide rods pivoted to the rear end of each member and passing through the openings in the vertical side arms of said frame, and a coiled spring mounted upon each rod for abutment with said member and a side arm of the frame to normally retain said coupling members in their normal position.

6. ln the combination, a pair of coupling members, each including a cylinder permitted to swing transversely of a car, a piston normally retained in the forward end of said cylinder and extending through the forward end of said cylinder whereby the piston may move longitudinally of car, said piston having annular flanges thereon for engagement with the inner walls of the cylinder to prevent air from passing around In testimony whereof I aX my signature sald plston, the 'forward end of sald cyllncler 1n presence of two wltnesses. belng provlded wlth an arcuate slot, and a longitudinally extending rib on said piston CHINTO A' GARZONI' and operating in Said slot whereby rocking Witnesees: movement or" the cylinder s prevented from C. C. ROWAN,

rocking said piston. ESTHER BROWN. 

